My cat is licking his belly a lot. Is it stress or an allergy?

This could be from either an environmental allergies, food (if you introduced any new treats, etc), or just anxiety. Some cats as they get older will become obsessive groomers and will cause sores like this on their abdomens. A lot of cats will only groom when no one is around. I would first try some Benadryl twice a day and you can even spray it with a Benadryl spray to see if it helps with the itching. If this doesn't work, I would have your vet take a look at it to see if you need to try a stronger allergy meds like a steroids, antibiotics or just an anti-anxiety medicine. See link below for Benadryl dosing. I hope this helps! https://www.petcoach.co/canigive/cat/benadryl/#

It could be allergies, which in cats means they usually pull or lick out hair on their body in one or two locations, and if the steroid cream helped you need to figure out what Bunky is allergic to. Food allergies and environmental allergies are common, so you need to try a veterinary prescription diet for 10 weeks, and potentially start Bunky on anti-itching or anti-anxiety medication that your vet can prescribe to stop him from overgrooming.

It could be an allergy or food sensitivities. It may also be behavioral or boredom. Place an e-collar (cone) on him to prevent further licking. Have your veterinarian examine Astro to diagnose skin infection (bacterial or fungal) and to discuss allergy testing, hydrolyzed diets and food elimination trials. Consider interactive toys to keep him distracted and pheromone products such as Feliway spray or plug in diffuser to decrease any anxiety.

Hi and thanks for using PetCoach! Sorry to hear about Oreo. Looks like he is definitely over grooming this area. There are many causes including something that caused an itch sensation (external parasite bite from fleas, ticks, mites, etc), bacterial infection, allergies, stress or psychogenic cause, or something called Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex. I would advise taking Oreo to your veterinarian. Once pets start licking/scratching a certain spot, the surface of the skin gets compromised and bacteria living on the surface of the skin can cause a skin infection. This just increases and encourages the itch cycle to continue until it is treated. Your vet can get a history, perform a physical examination, and then advise a diagnostic/treatment plan. Oreo may just need some good flea/tick control, some antibiotics, some anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid), and an Elizabethan Collar to prevent licking until the area heals. Also, if stress is involved, that can be addressed also. Good luck with Oreo. Here is a link to learn about Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex if that's what is going on. http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/eosinophilic.cfm

Hi there! It appears from the picture that it's a patch of irritated skin- this can be caused from self trauma (obsessive licking), allergies, or a skin infection. Many cats cope with anxiety by over-grooming themselves, and they most commonly do it in the belly area. From your story, I'm suspicious that Jack was nervous while you were away and possibly did this to himself. For this spot to go away, he needs to stop licking it. This can be done by putting on a cone collar or a shirt- whatever you think he will tolerate best. As far as fixing the problem in the future, I'd recommend using Feliway products. It's a natural feline pheromone that helps to relieve anxiety. If that's not helpful, your vet can recommend a low dose anti-anxiety drug to help him get through stressful times, like when family members are away. If the area begins to ooze or smell bad, it is a sign of an infection. Your vet will likely take a sample to find the cause of the lesion, and then treat with antibiotics and possibly antihistamines or anti-inflammatories. I hope this helps!

Hello! Cats commonly cope with anxiety by over-grooming themselves, usually in their belly region. I think you are exactly right that she has licked the fur off. In a fungal infection, I would expect to see redness of the skin, crusting, or discharge. The first thing I'd recommend for anxious kitties is a product called Feliway. It's a feline pheromone product that helps naturally calm cats. It can come in diffuser, spray, and collar forms. Cats also find great comfort in height. If she doesn't have many high places to perch around the house, that can be something that helps her interact more. There are also options of anxiolytic drugs, such as Prozac, that can help if you don't find success in the other options. I hope this helps! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is probably caused by an allergic reaction. first of all make sure you de-flea Lily regularly every month with a high quality spot on (ex. Advantage) as fleas are by far the most common reason for these reactions. If the fleas are not the problem, it could be an allergic reaction to food or an environmental factor. this is more complicated to treat and will sometimes require medications such as Steroids, anti histamines or cyclosporin in order to stop the allergy.